Shopping for the healthiest foods

I think one of the most important things that parents can do to create a healthy lifestyle for their children is understanding the food that’s going inside of their bodies and inside of your family’s home. What are you inviting into your home? Where are you getting your food? How are you shopping?
I really am a big believer of shopping on the periphery of the store, so the freshest fruits and vegetables and the dairy and the meats on the outside of the store shelves. What’s usually inside of the store shelves is the more processed foods, the more boxed foods. Try to stay fresh, try to stay local, try to stay… Farmers’ Markets are popping up everywhere around the country – really support local agriculture and shop with those Farmers’ Markets in mind.
Also what is going into their body as far as food dyes. That’s a big concern amongst health experts today. Food dyes are linked to behavioral disorders and asthma and learning disabilities, so really be aware of food dyes that are in traditional products. So food dyes like Red 40 and Yellow number 5, they’re found in the most odd places, macaroni and cheese, fruit leathers and fruit rollups, even within pureed baby foods. We really have to be aware of what is inside of those products. So look for food coloring and avoid them at all costs. Candies and even vitamins.
So understand that food is a big issue today. Be aware of how you can support, again, local agriculture, but really, you’re supporting the healthfulness of your child and baby. And really understand that organic is traditionally best.

Christopher Gavigan

Co-founder, Honest.com & Author

Christopher Gavigan is a well-known environmental health leader, author, speaker, and entrepreneur who builds impactful brands through meaningful communications platforms, innovative consumer products, and social engagement strategies. Christopher recently has founded and launched The Honest Company, an exciting suite of healthy, non-toxic, beautifully designed products for babies and families, with founding partners Jessica Alba and Brian Lee. As the former CEO / Executive Director of Healthy Child Healthy World, Christopher shaped Healthy Child to be one of the most credible and trusted organizations in the environmental and children’s health field. Christopher is also the best selling author of Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home. Currently, Christopher sits on the Board of Directors of Mount Sinai Hospital’s Children Environmental Health Center and is a Chief Advisor to the Cradle to Cradle Product Innovation Institute. He is also on the Advisory Boards of SAIL Capital Partners and UCLA’s Environmental Health Sciences Department. Christopher was awarded the WebMD’s “Health Hero Award for 2010” and Elle Magazine’s “Green Award” in 2007.

Raised in New York and Connecticut, Christopher graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a double major in Environmental Science and Business, and extensive Masters Degree training in Psychology from UCLA. Christopher lives in Santa Monica with wife and actress, Jessica Capshaw, and their three children Luke, Eve and Poppy.

I think one of the most important things that parents can do to create a healthy lifestyle for their children is understanding the food that’s going inside of their bodies and inside of your family’s home. What are you inviting into your home? Where are you getting your food? How are you shopping?
I really am a big believer of shopping on the periphery of the store, so the freshest fruits and vegetables and the dairy and the meats on the outside of the store shelves. What’s usually inside of the store shelves is the more processed foods, the more boxed foods. Try to stay fresh, try to stay local, try to stay… Farmers’ Markets are popping up everywhere around the country – really support local agriculture and shop with those Farmers’ Markets in mind.
Also what is going into their body as far as food dyes. That’s a big concern amongst health experts today. Food dyes are linked to behavioral disorders and asthma and learning disabilities, so really be aware of food dyes that are in traditional products. So food dyes like Red 40 and Yellow number 5, they’re found in the most odd places, macaroni and cheese, fruit leathers and fruit rollups, even within pureed baby foods. We really have to be aware of what is inside of those products. So look for food coloring and avoid them at all costs. Candies and even vitamins.
So understand that food is a big issue today. Be aware of how you can support, again, local agriculture, but really, you’re supporting the healthfulness of your child and baby. And really understand that organic is traditionally best.